The Fourth Wizard

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Potterverse

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to my beta Buggycas.

Chapter 5

After a tense hour Algernon came back out and said, "I have checked the goblet. I need to see those who were named by it first. Just them, at first."

Several people would have objected if he hadn't been the head Unspeakable. As it was all seven students filed into the room after him in silence. He closed the door then cast several privacy spells.

He looked at them and started, "Okay, first let me say that I'm sure of what I'm about to tell you. That's what took me so long really, making sure I had it all right."

Fleur spoke, "Well, I am sure we all appreciate your diligence but perhaps you could tell the findings you are so sure of?"

"The goblet was tampered with by several people," he said. "First was the man pretending to be your defense teacher. He altered the rune that holds the number of contestants to three and added Potter's name with no school in an attempt to be sure he was picked."

"But that wasn't the end of it?" Krum asked.

"No," Algernon shook his head. "The next person to interfere was your headmaster, Mr. Krum. He added your name and for some reason felt the need to try and prevent it from choosing any female champions. Why he did it I can't say but he was hamfisted enough to cause the opposite effect. So the new rune actually encouraged the choosing of female champions as well as extra champions."

"Well that explains a lot," Daphne said. "Any other tampering?"

Algernon nodded, "Yes, my wards recorded several students, underage students, tossing multiple papers in. Some of them also cast spells at it. My wards recorded the spells but I didn't set to record underage students identities, just repel them if they got too close or tossed in their own name." He looked sheepish, "I have records of the ones who tried that but not the ones who tossed in other names or cast spells at it. That is why I know none of you underage students or Mr. Krum entered your own names."

Harry spoke with hope in his voice, "Since you can prove there was tampering, can we cancel this and do it over?"

"That isn't my call," Algernon said. "I will be informing the three headmasters and the heads of the countries involved. Then they will decide to either call it off or not." He sighed, "Don't get your hopes up though. I think this will create exactly the kind of three-ring circus they wanted. I will now leave you to talk while I go tell the rest of them what happened. If you do get stuck competing I will help teach any of you. I do feel at least a little responsible and I wouldn't want you to get killed in a tournament you didn't want to enter in the first place." After that, the Unspeakable unsealed the door and left the room.

He walked up to the staff table and turned to face the students and reporters, "I have checked the goblet and it has been tampered with. I go now to my office to send correspondence to the heads of state informing them. Good day." He stepped down but before he could leave the reporters, the staff of all three schools, and the students all shouted requests for more information. He sighed, "Very well, I will add a bit more information. The persons who tampered with the goblet are Bartemius Crouch Jr., who was incorrectly deemed to be dead, and Igor Karkarov. Several minors whose names I will not divulge also attempted unsuccessfully to curse the goblet." Once finished speaking he thrust a hand into his pocket and disappeared.

"Must have been a portkey," Hermione said to Ron.

Back in the room, Cedric said, "Is this how it usually goes when you have your yearly adventure?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, pretty much. If the politicians decide we all have to compete anyway it will definitely be this year's happening." He smirked, "Don't you feel special now? We can start calling you the Chosen One or maybe the Hufflepuff Champion."

Cedric blushed a bit but Daphne spoke up, "If I have to participate I'm going to milk it for every drop of advantage I can. Even if it's only a little fame I'll take it. The rest of you can be modest if you like but a fair number of Ministry positions depend on who you know and how good your reputation is. If I can keep from being last and not do anything scandalous on camera I can turn this fiasco into a well-paying job later."

"The nargles say you might even be Minister if Harry doesn't run," Luna said.

Krum said, "I will leave if possible, if not I will smile, wave, and put in the absolute minimum effort. I just want to survive." He looked at Daphne and smiled, "I already have a well-paid job and I want to get back to it."

"Fair enough," Daphne replied.

"I can't believe my government would agree to let this travesty continue," Fleur said. "If nothing else they will object to having only one representative."

"I believe it of mine," Krum said.

Angelina nodded, "Me too." She sighed, "Should we go back out there?"

"I'd rather wait until we're called or the press have gone home but I'll leave when the rest of you do," said Harry.

Cedric said, "Let's take a vote."

Harry agreed, "That's a good idea."

Daphne muttered and Fleur rolled her eyes but nobody disagreed. The majority voted to exit immediately and they left the room.

Outside they found the reporters clustered around Algernon as he repeated what he found out about the goblet then disappeared.

Harry and Angelina slid back to their seats at the Gryffindor table without being noticed by the reporters. The other Gryffindors congratulated them.

Daphne intercepted the WWN guy. "I just want to say that I, Daphne Greengrass, am glad that the ancient magic of the druids chose me as a champion for Hogwarts. I hope everyone will root for me during the upcoming events."

Cedric was cornered by Rita Skeeter and roped into an interview.

Fleur spoke with the French reporter who seemed more interested in her romantic prospects than anything else.

Viktor spoke to the Bulgarian reporter about his hope that the whole thing would be canceled and redone without him.

Luna went back to her table without anyone noticing and sat down.

Karkarov left the hall refusing to answer any questions from the press or his students.

Albus said, "All students are dismissed. Those of you in the tournament are excused from all tests and will not be marked tardy or absent from class but I implore you not to abuse this privilege. It is meant to give you more time to prepare not allow you to goof off. This is especially important for those of you who are under seventeen. I will not be here tomorrow as I will be meeting with the Minister and I suspect the ICW may wish to get involved. Until I return Professor McGonagall is in charge. Thank you." Then he left the room.

The next morning at breakfast McGonagall stood up and said, "I know you are all wondering about the tournament and where your headmasters are so I will share this information with you. The Ministers of Britain, France, and Bulgaria are in conference with Dumbledore and Madame Maximus and are trying to decide the best course of action for everyone. We do not know where Headmaster Karkarov is. If anyone has pertinent information please come forward."

A Durmstrang student raised a hesitant hand, "Acting headmistress I believe I saw him leave the castle last night. He was muttering about dark marks and ungrateful kids so I hid before he saw me. He left around midnight."

"Thank you," she replied. "Did you happen to see where he went after he left the castle?"

Another hand went up at the Ravenclaw table, "Uh, ma'am? I was studying at around that time and saw someone leaving the castle. He, or she, it was really too dark to tell, went towards the lake. Have you checked to see if the ship is still there yet ma'am?"

"Yes, we have," McGonagall said. "But I thank you for that information. Anyone else?"

Another Durmstrang student raised a hand, "Ma'am, our ship has two lifeboats that are heavily enchanted. One is set to bring itself to the nearest land and the other is an international portkey with the school as a fixed destination."

Minerva McGonagall nodded and said, "Can you or one of your fellows show Professor Flitwick where those are on the ship and see if one is missing?"

The girl nodded, "Yes, ma'am. I can take him now if you like. I'm not very hungry."

Minerva replied, "No, eat first. Thank you and thanks to everyone who answered. Please sit and eat."

After breakfast it was determined that the lifeboat that went back to the school was missing.

When the reporters showed up at lunch Krum told them, and everyone else, that he was having his lawyers sue Karkarov and they were also trying to get the Bulgarian Minister to vote to dissolve the current tournament.

One reporter chuckled, "Kid, the goblet only works once a year. Even if they manage to set it right it won't be available to restart things. So, I seriously doubt any of the governments that spent all those galleons getting ready for this tournament are going to cancel it because of you. They'll say that Karkarov and Crouch messed things up but that they can still arrange a safe tournament. They'll lose too much needed money otherwise and look weak into the bargain." No one agreed out loud but several other reporters were nodding.

Harry sighed when he heard that but he wasn't surprised. He went up to Luna after lunch, "Oi, Luna. Neville, Hermione, and I have a spell practice and study group going. Want to join? We've learned a few things that aren't taught to our year yet. They might come in handy for tournament."

Luna smiled, "I'm a Ravenclaw Harry. I like learning new things whether or not I'll need them. So when and where do you meet?"

"Well, we're meeting tonight," Harry said. "But we'll need a new place unless you can get into the Gryffindor dorms. That's where we used to hold it."

She cocked her head to one side, "Boys or girls side?"

"Er, boys side fourth year dorm," Harry replied.

She nodded, "I can be there after dinner but you should tell your dorm mates not to be upset when they see me."

Harry was confused but agreed, "Yeah, sure Luna. I can do that."

She nodded, smiled, and walked off.

Harry shrugged, she would either be there or not. He turned to Ron, "Is it just me or is she a bit weird?"

"It's not just you," Ron said. "Her family lives near mine. She's a bit cracked but sharp as a tack. I wouldn't bet against her showing up, you know if I had any money to bet."

"Huh," Harry said. "Well okay then. She might be a good addition to the group then."

"You might ask Angelina too," Ron said. "She probably knows a lot you don't."

Harry shrugged, "I don't know if she will want to join students so much younger but it won't hurt to ask."